Olivia’s POV
Breathe, Olivia. In. Out. In. Out.
You got this. You left that note on his desk for a reason, right? You can’t chicken out now.
You’ll et him tomorrow and see how the conversation goes.
This was what I told myself over and over again, lying in the darkness with Mitchell’s warm body pressed against mine. My heart was racing, my mind spiraling through a thousand possible scenarios - most of them ending in disaster.
But eventually, exhaustion won out, and I drifted off to sleep.
Then I started having terrible nightmares.
I was standing in the middle of Maxwell’s mansion, but I was myself - Olivia, not Oliver. No disguise, no binding, no wig. Just in a dress, exposed and vulnerable.
Then they appeared. All four of them - Maxwell, Damien, Gabriel, and Alex - surrounding in a circle. Their faces were expressionless, cold, as they closed in.
"You lied to us," Maxwell’s voice echoed.
"You’re a fraud," Alex added.
I tried to explain, tried to make them understand, but no words would co out. So I did the only thing I could - I ran.
I broke through the circle and started running with all my strength. Behind , I could hear their footsteps, all four of them pursuing relentlessly.
The mansion beca a maze - hallways that twisted and turned, doors that led nowhere, staircases that went in circles. No matter how fast I ran, they were always right behind .
Finally, I burst through a door and found myself at the end of a dark road. Dead end. Nowhere left to run.
I turned around to face them, tears streaming down my face, ready to accept whatever punishnt was coming.
But then he appeared.
My stranger, dressed in his dark hoodie, stepping out of the shadows like a guardian angel. He positioned himself between and the others, his body like a solid wall.
"She’s mine," he said, his voice filled with authority. "You don’t touch her."
And then I woke up.
Only to fall back asleep and dream about David - David chasing through the streets, David dragging into his car, David ripping off my disguise in front of everyone while laughing maniacally.
By the ti morning finally ca, I was utterly exhausted from running all night in my dreams. My legs actually ached, like I’d really been sprinting for hours.
"You look like hell," Kira observed over breakfast.
"Thanks," I muttered into my coffee. "Really needed to hear that."
The day crawled by at a slow pace, and I found myself doing the chores I’d been neglecting for a long ti - laundry, dishes, scrubbing the bathroom until it sparkled. Anything to keep my mind off the afternoon eting.
Mitchell helped in her own way, which mostly consisted of sitting on freshly folded laundry and batting at the mop while I tried to clean.
"We’ve successfully turned a queen into a maid," Kira laughed, watching Mitchell chase dust bunnies across the floor. "Maxwell would be so pissed."
The ntion of Maxwell made my stomach flip. In a few hours, I’d be sitting across from him. Not as Oliver that I’ve already perfected in front of him, but as Olivia.
How should I react towards him? Polite? Rude? Pissed?
I purposely didn’t tell Kira about the eting. I couldn’t handle her making it into a bigger deal than it already was, giving advice, asking a million questions. My nerves were already frayed enough.
I’d tell her everything when I got back.
By 1:00 PM, I went to my room to get ready. This was it. No turning back now.
I stood in front of my closet for ten minutes, trying to decide what to wear. This had to be perfect. For so reason, I wanted to look hot and sexy, like the kind of won he usually went out with. He’s seen every side of Oliver, ti to bring back that woman he once humiliated in his love doctor’s office.
I knew Maxwell would never like a girl like - too bland, too simple, not exotic enough - but I still wanted look really beautiful. Atleast for myself.
I settled on a dress from the mysterious box my stranger had sent. It was a lavender short gown that hugged my every curve, with a little slit and a neckline that dipped towards my chest, exposing succulent cleavage. I paired it with strappy heels that made my legs look really long and added a gold jewelry.
For my makeup, I took my ti applying everything in a way that would completely eradicate any resemblance to Oliver. Smoky eyes, contoured cheekbones, lips painted in a subtle nude that made them look naturally pouty.
When I finally looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. This wasn’t the casual Olivia I knew. This was Olivia at her absolute best - confident, sexy, powerful.
I could do this.
I stepped out of my room, and Kira - who’d been lying on the couch watching so romantic cody and laughing like a hyena - turned toward .
Her jaw literally dropped.
"Holy shit," she breathed. "Where are you going dressed like that?"
"On a date," I said casually, positioning my purse to prove my point.
"A date? With who? Gabriel?" Her eyes were wide with surprise.
I shook my head. "Soone else."
Kira sat up straight, her laptop forgotten. "Soone else? You’re seeing other n and you didn’t tell ? Who is he? Do I know him? Is he hot?"
"Kira, calm down," I said, feeling guilty about lying but knowing I had no choice. "We just started talking. It’s really new."
"Well, I approve," she announced, settling back into the couch. "Any man who can turn your confused feelings away from your hot, annoying boss is more than welco to the family."
I smiled at the irony. She had no idea how close to the truth she actually was - except I was going to et that hot, annoying boss.
My phone pinged with a notification. Your ride has arrived.
I’d ordered a proper car service instead of just hopping in a random taxi. The way I was dressed, I deserved to arrive in style.
"I’ll fill you in when I get back," I promised, heading for the door.
"You better! I want all the details! And if he’s a creep, call imdiately! I’ll co protect you!"
"Will do!"
The car was waiting outside when I ca down. The driver opened the door for , and I slid into the backseat, my heart already pounding.
"Cusco’s Restaurant." I told him.
As we drove through the city, I tried to steady my breathing. This was happening. This was really happening. I’m eting Maxwell again.
Cusco’s turned out to be a five-star restaurant that scread money and exclusivity. The kind of place I couldn’t even dream to enter on my own.
I stepped out of the car, smoothing down my dress, and walked toward the entrance on shaking legs.
The first thing I noticed when I walked inside was the sheer beauty of the place, it was so beautiful to describe, simply breathtaking.
The second thing I noticed was that the restaurant was completely empty. Not a single other patron in sight. Had Maxwell rented out the entire place?
The third thing I noticed was Maxwell himself, sitting at a table by the window, checking his watch with impatience.
I walked towards him, my heels announcing my arrival.
He turned, and our eyes t.
For a split second, his jaw actually dropped. His eyes widened, taking in my appearance from head to toe. I watched sothing flicker across his face - sothing I couldn’t quite decipher.
Then he composed himself, his features settling into a cold, controlled mask.
I expected him to stand, to pull out my chair, to do any of the gentlemanly things n usually did. But instead, the first words out of his mouth were sharp and arrogant.
"You’re late. Five minutes late."
I blinked, thrown off balance. "I..."
His eyes raked over again, and there was definitely heat in that gaze now, mixed with frustration. "And why are you dressed like you’re going on a date? What is this?" He gestured at my outfit. "Are you trying to seduce the sa way you tried to seduce my best friend?"
The accusation hit like a slap. My mouth fell open in shock. "Excuse ?"
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